Henry Tracey Ceperley was a property and insurance broker who lived at 1884 Haro Street in 1918.

He was born on January 10, 1850, in Oneonta, New York. His father was Martin Ceperley (1800-1882). His mother was Desiah (Winnie) (1801-1863).

Henry went to school in Oneonta and at Whitestown Seminary. He was a public school teacher in Otsego County until 1871, when he moved to Winona, Minnesota, which is on the Mississippi River, southeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul. He began to work in the produce and commission business.

About 1876, he moved to New Mexico, where he worked as a cashier and bookkeeper for a company that was building the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. In 1880, he was living in Pecos, New Mexico.

On September 7, 1881, in Winona, he married Jennie R. Foster. She was born in Winona, Minnesota, on May 9, 1863. Her father was Rollin A. Foster (1838-1915), a fruit and egg dealer who was sometimes very successful, but in 1896 had to file an assignment for the benefit of creditors. Her mother was Sarah Jane Apker (1832-1908).

In March 1883, Henry moved to Livingstone, Montana, where he stayed for about three years. He worked in the cattle business, and also set up an insurance business. In 1884, he became the president of the Livingston Board of Trade.

By 1887, Henry had moved to Vancouver, where he set up a real estate business. By about 1888, he was living in a house at 1116 Georgia Street.

The association with Mr. Ross did not last long. By 1891, Henry was living at 734 Burrard Street. He was the managing director of Vancouver Loan, Trust, Savings & Guarantee Co. Ltd., with offices at 521 Hastings Street in the Thompson-Ogle Building.

In the fall of 1891, Jennie was suffering from rheumatism and neuralgia. She and Henry went to Los Angeles, California, to see if the weather there would be better for Jennie’s health. According to the news reports, the climate in California was “too relaxing,” so the family did not stay there. On December 3, they went to Winona, Minnesota, so that Jennie could stay at the home of her parents, which was at 211 West Broadway. Jennie seemed to improve, so Henry returned briefly to his business in Vancouver. However, on December 25, Henry got news that Jennie was worse, so he went back to Winona. She died in Winona on January 4, 1892. She was buried in Woodlawn cemetery in Winona.

On March 14, 1894, in Vancouver, Henry married Grace Elizabeth Dixon. Most sources state that she was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on February 24, 1863, but it appears that her real year of birth was 1859. Her parents were Silas and Harriet Dixon.

By 1896, Henry had established a new company called “Ceperley, Loewen & Campbell, Ltd.,” which acted as insurance and financial agents. Their offices were in the Inns of Court Building at 301 Hastings Street. Charles Joseph Loewen (1867-1963) was president of the company; he lived at the Manor House Hotel. “Forbes Morrison Mac Iver Mac Iver-Campbell” was the third person in the company name.

By 1898, Mr. Loewen and Mr. Campbell no longer had any connection with the company. The company applied to the British Columbia government to change the company name to Ceperley, Mackenzie and Rounsfell [sic] Ltd. Hector Mackenzie (1863-1939) and Frank W. Rounsefell (1868-1938) were the other main shareholders in the company.

By 1902, the company was called “Ceperley Rounsefell and Company,” with offices on the second floor of the Molson’s Bank Chambers at 597 West Hastings Street.

Grace’s sister, Marion, had been married to Alfred Graham Ferguson, who was a successful contractor in British Columbia. Marion died in 1902. When Alfred died in 1903, he left some downtown Vancouver property to Grace. According to the probate documents, the property was worth about $65,000.

With the help of this money, Henry and Grace began developing “Fairacres,” their home at Deer Lake in Burnaby, British Columbia.

In 1910, Henry took a less-active part in Ceperley Rounsefell’s business, although he remained as president of the company. Frank Rounsefell, who was the managing director, took on an increased role in the company.

Henry was also the managing director of the British America Development Company and was one of the provisional directors of the Bank of Vancouver, which started business in 1910.

Grace had one of her first Fairacres receptions on July 7, 1911. On December 2, 1911, Henry and Grace went to the hotel and spa at Poland Springs, Maine, where they were planning to spend most of the winter.

Grace’s estate had some accounting and legal issues. In 1919, the British Columbia Court of Appeal concluded that the executors of the estate could not use moneys from the general estate for the upkeep of Fairacres. The executors also had challenges in relation to other parts of the estate. Grace had left $5,000 to Christ Church to build a tower; the actual cost of the tower would have been $23,000. Grace had also left $2,000 to equip the school at the Alexandra Orphanage; the orphanage had no school to equip. The proposed beneficiaries applied to the court to receive the money, even though they could not fulfill the specific conditions of Grace’s will.

From 1920 to 1921 , Henry’s address was at the Vancouver Club. From 1922, he was at 1620 Nanton Avenue in Shaughnessy Heights (and by 1926, that part of Nanton Avenue was called West 27 Avenue).

By 1923, Frederick Buscombe had bought Fairacres. Grace had left a significant estate that included provisions for the proceeds of sale from Fairacres to build a children’s playground at Second Beach in Stanley Park. The grand opening of the Ceperley Playground was on June 14, 1924.

After 1927, Henry was living with his son, Arthur, at 2906 West 36 Avenue, although he travelled to California for some periods.

In April 1928, Henry stayed for a time at the Barcelona Hotel in San Diego, California.

On December 14, 1929, Henry died in Coronado, California. He was buried in Clinton Grove Cemetery, Clinton Township, Macomb, Michigan.

Henry and Jennie had the following children.

Vaughn Earl Ceperley

Vaughn Earl Ceperley was born in Winona, Minnesota, on December 29, 1882. He died in Winona on January 5, 1883. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona.

William Earl Ceperley

William Earl Ceperley appears to have died in Winona, Minnesota, in 1883. Two sources mention him as being buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona. However, it is not clear that William and Vaughn are different people.

Ethelwynn Ceperley

Ethelwynn Ceperley (sometimes called “Ethel”), was born in Livingston, Montana, on March 10, 1884.

On September 2, 1907, in Vancouver, she married James Edward Hall, who was a grain dealer. He was born on December 2, 1878, in Belleville, Ontario. His parents were Charles Edward and Ida Jane Hall.

James died in Vancouver on February 28, 1938.

Ethelwynn died in Deep Cove, British Columbia, on October 28, 1954.

Arthur Tracy Ceperley

Arthur Tracy Ceperley was born on March 16, 1886, in Livingston, Montana.

On November 29, 1907, in Winona, Minnesota, Arthur married Lila Jane Howie. She was born in Minnesota on July 19, 1885. Her father was James Kier Howie; her mother was Ida Isbell.

Arthur enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

By 1925, he was in Vancouver, working as an accountant with the Dominion Income Tax department.

In 1930, he became the office manager for the brokerage firm of W.F. Irwin Co.

Lila died in Vancouver on July 27, 1945.

Arthur later married Meta Maxine Coughlin. She was born in Revelstoke, British Columbia, on September 5, 1905 (although some sources say 1903 or 1904). Her father was William Peter Coughlin; her mother was Harriett Elizabeth Balance. Meta had been married before, in 1924, to Kenneth Edwin Calbick; this marriage ended in divorce in Vancouver on December 17, 1954. Meta was also married to James Leven Corral, who died in Nelson, British Columbia, on May 22, 1955.

Arthur died in Vancouver on July 14, 1963.

Meta later married Walter Lorrain Cook; he died in Vancouver on October 7, 1969. Meta died in Vancouver on October 20, 1969.

Sources

I am grateful to Lynda Maeve Orr for her knowledge of the Ceperley family, and for providing detailed information about the family background.

“Extensive Investment at Livingston, Montana, by Winona Capitalists,” Winona Daily Republican, April 23, 1883, page 3, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: ”Winona is becoming famous for syndicates. They go to Idaho and open silver mines, they unlock the resources of Santa Anna’s country, they purchase vast tracts of pine lands in Mississippi, they build the commercial emporium of Central Dakota at La Beau, they grapple on to the loose acres lying easterly and westerly of our own city, and lastly, they have gone to Montana and grasped the key to the situation at Livingston.. . .Work on the railroad from the Northern Pacific at Livingston to the Yellowstone Park, a distance of sixty miles, has been commenced and the railroad company are almost ready getting in material for extensive machine shops at this point. In view of all this the purchase by the syndicate is a valuable and highly important one.”

Business news: Winona Daily Republican, January 31, 1884, page 3, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: “Livingston, Montana, in which many Winonians are deeply interested, is enjoying a very exciting Winter boom. Letters received from Mr. H.T. Ceperly state that it commenced a few days ago by the discovery of a very rich gold mine in Emigrant Gulch, twenty-seven miles from Livingston. The mine, we are informed, was purchased some time ago for $30,000 by Mr. Armstrong, one of the commissioners of the Northern Pacific railroad, and the developments made in it this Winter have so enhanced its value that he recently sold one-eighth of it for $100,000. The next impetus to the boom was the survey of the Utah Northern railroad directly to Livingston on its way to Fort Benton and the purchase by the Utah Northern Railroad company of two valuable coal mines, one above and one below the town. Property is changing hands rapidly, and the people of Livingston are very enthusiastic over their good fortune. Whoever has investigated the subject of the variety and extent of the mineral deposits immediately around Livingston and the National Yellowstone Park can but believe that the wonders of that region are yet in their infancy.”

Business news: Winona Daily Republican, February 02, 1884, page 3, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: “Winonians always get to the front. Mr. H.T. Ceperly [sic], formerly of this city, was on Monday evening elected President of the Board of Trade of Livingston, Montana. The Enterprise of that city says he is a representative business man and one who is both by property and principle strongly interest in the prosperity of that young city. Mr. Ceperly is the resident manager of the Winona syndicated property in Livingston.”

History of Montana. 1739-1885: A History of Its Discovery and Settlement, Social and Commercial Progress, Mines and Miners, Agriculture and Stock-growing, Churches, Schools and Societies, Indians and Indian Wars, Vigilantes, Courts of Justice, Newspaper Press, Navigation, Railroads and Statistics, with Histories of Counties, Cities, Villages and Mining Camps; Chicago, Warner, Beers & Company, 1885, page 1110; http://books.google.ca/books?id=lB1PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1110&lpg=PA1110&dq=winona+minnesota+ceperley&source=bl&ots=BCLSMsoFVN&sig=4uP9L5f7Od5dcjexwo_RqtVaAiw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=n0F7VMKUJIfmiQLgtoHgCg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=winona%20minnesota%20ceperley&f=false: “H.T. Ceperley, P.O. Livingston, real estate and insurance agent, established his business at Livingston in March, 1883, being among the first in his line at this point. He represents the best companies, including the Home, Hartford, Phoenix, Liverpool and London and Globe, of England, Commercial, of California, and the New York Life, of New York. Mr. Ceperley is proprietor of the Riverside addition to Livingston, and does an extensive real estate business. He was born in Otsego Co., N.Y., in 1851; was educated at Whitestown seminary, went to Winona, Minn., and remained from 1873 to 1878, and then went to New Mexico, coming from there to his present location in March, 1883.

“Mr. Ceperley Buys Burnaby Fruit Farm,” Vancouver Province, February 6, 1909, page 1: “New Westminster, Feb. 6 (Special) – An improved seventeen-acre fruit ranch near Burnaby lake has just been sold for $1000 an acre, G. Every Clayton having disposed of his ranch to Mr. H.T. Ceperly of Vancouver, for $17,000. Mr. Clayton has been working the farm for some time and had just built a fine new house and barn. Mr. Clayton has purchased Mrs. Houston’s fifteen-acre ranch bordering on Burnaby lake, as well as four acres of Mr. Macray’s ranch . . .”

H.T. Ceperley, death notice, Vancouver Province, December 16, 1929, page 17: “H.T. Ceperley – Died at Coronado Beach, Cal, Friday, December 13, in his 79th year. Funeral will be held at Mr. Clemens, Mich.”

“Mrs. H. T. Ceperley Dead,” Vancouver Daily World, January 5, 1892, page 2; St. Paul Daily Globe, January 05, 1892, Page 8, column 3, midway down column; http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059522/1892-01-05/ed-1/seq-8/: “Mrs. H.T. Ceperley died this morning at the residence of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Foster, on West Broadway. Mrs. Ceperley’s home is in Vancouver and she was here on a visit. She was twenty-eight years of age.”

“Winona Firm Fails: R.A. Foster Co. Assigns to W.R. Foster: The Mild Weather of Last Winter was Bad for Egg Dealers and Caused This Firm to Lose Forty Thousand Dollars –This Led up to the Failure,” Winona Daily Republican, Thursday, July 30, 1896, page 3, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: “The R.A. foster Company filed a deed of voluntary assignment in the District Court Thursday morning, Mr. W.R. Foster being named as assignee. The assignment was brought about by the warm weather of last Winter, which caused prices of eggs to drop so that the firm lost $40,000. Then this Summer, while eggs have been plentiful and cheap, it has been impossible to dispose of them at a profit. Figures in regard to the assets and liabilities are not obtainable to-day, but it is known that the latter are very largely in excess of the former and will exceed $25,000 in amount. The heaviest creditors are all in Chicago. Mr. R.A. Foster came to Winona about 24 years ago and engaged in the wholesale fruit business, being the first wholesale fruit merchant in the city. Twelve years ago he went into the buying and selling of eggs on an extensive scale and has since continued in that business. IN the Winter of 1894-5 he came into national prominence by successfully cornering the Chicago egg market. This was a good speculation, but the profits then made were all dropped last Winter, with much good money besides. The past year, Mr. Foster says, is by all odds the worst experienced since he has been in the egg business. The loss this year has been especially felt, inasmuch as the season of 1893-4 was also poor, making only one good business year in three. During Mr. Foster’s long and honourable business career here he has distributed considerable money in this vicinity, and done his share toward building up the city. The hope is freely expressed that the way may be opened for him to resume business.”

“Former Winonan Succumbs After Brief Illness – Well Known Egg Dealer, Winona Republican-Herald, October 30, 1915, page 2, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: “According to a telegram received in Winona this morning from Chicago, Rollin A. Foster, one of the old residents of Winona, died there this morning after a short illness. The funeral services will be held in Chicago. The body will be brought to Winona on Sunday and the burial will be private. Rollin A. Foster, who was born in 1838 at Albion, New York, had been a resident of Winona for about fifty years. When he first came to this city he engaged in the grain business as a buyer, handling large amounts of grain during the years he was thus engaged. He then went into the wholesale fruit business and was a distributor for a large section of the Northwest out of Winona. He was best known, however, as a dealer in eggs and Butter, in which business he engaged about the year 1880. For some years he was one of the best known egg men in the Northwest. In the year 1895 he attained national notoriety in the handling of eggs, he holding enough in cold storage at that time to give control of the market and being given lengthy write-ups in the Chicago and other metropolitan daily papers For a time also Mr. Foster handled oysters with his eggs and butter. Retires from Business: About two years ago he retired from the produce business and was succeeded by his son, William R. Foster, now located at 119 Main street. Since he retired from business, Mr. Foster has spent much of his time in Chicago. It has been some months since his last visit to Winona. In all his long life he never required the services of a physician until his last illness. Mr. Foster was pre-deceased by his wife five years ago. A daughter, Mrs. H.T. Ceperley, died in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1891. There are now three sons surviving, James A. Foster of Albany, New York, William H. Foster of Winona, and L.P. Foster of Atlanta, Georgia.”

Sarah Jane Foster (Apker), obituary, Winona Republican-Herald, May 19, 1908, page: 8, http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Default/Skins/WinonaA/Client.asp?skin=WinonaA&AW&AW=1417369527310&AppName=2: “Sarah Jane Apker was born in Pennsylvania, May 3, 1832, was married to R.A. Foster in Wonawoc, Wis., in December 1860. They came to Winona, September 2, 1860, and made their home here since that time. Mrs. Foster passed peacefully away on February 24, 1908, and was laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery on Saturday Feb. 29. She is survived by her husband and three sons, James A., with the Eastern States Refrigerator company of Albany, N.Y., William R., with the Merchants Refrigerating company of New York city, and Lynn P., with the Swift Fertilizer company of Atlanta, Ga. There was also one daughter, Mrs. H.T. Ceperly [sic], who died in April 1892. There were present at the funeral, Lynn P. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. R. Foster, Arthur Ceperly of Duluth, and his wife, who was formerly Miss Howie of this city, Albert Foster of Baraboo, Wis., and a nephew, Clinton Apker of Baraboo.”

Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXX, Number 240, 4 June 1903 — Deaths of the Day: Alfred G. Ferguson; http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19030604.2.56&srpos=11&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN-a+g+ferguson+——#: “San Francisco, June 3.—Alfred G. Ferguson of Vancouver, B.C., one of the most prominent engineers on the Pacific slope, died here yesterday of Bright’s disease. Deceased was 69 years of age and a widower without children. He leaves a large estate to his brother, Judge A.N. Ferguson of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. H.T. Ceperly, sister of his deceased wife. Mr. Ferguson engineered some of the large tunnels on the western division of the Canadian Pacific railroad in British Columbia and much important railroad construction in this state.”

“And in the event of any mortgagee refusing to accept such payments and could he or they not be compelled to do so then my said trustees shall apply the proceeds of such sale pro rata in reduction of the remaining mortgages if any. And this direction shall apply to mortgages if any against the lands devised to Grace Ceperley aforesaid it being my intention and wish that she should have such real estate free from any mortgage encumbrances eventually but not until sufficient sales of my real estate are made in the ordinary course and in the discretion of my trustees to provide sufficient funds to satisfy and discharge any mortgage or mortgages that may be against said property.”

Grace E. Ceperley, death notice, Vancouver Province, November 22, 1917, page 23: “Ceperley – The death occurred at Shaughnessy Heights on Wednesday morning, Nov. 21, of Grace E., beloved wife of H.T. Ceperley. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 23, at 3589 Angus avenue west, at 2:30 p.m. It is requested that no flowers be sent.”

“Plan Work at Stanley Park: Ceperley Playgrounds Will be Ready for Use in May: Other Improvements,” Vancouver Province, February 14, 1924, page 20.

“Dedicate Play Ground for Children: Well-equipped Park Area Is Gift of Late Mrs. H.T. Ceperley: Is Opened With Interesting Ceremony Attended By Thousands of Children,” Vancouver Province, June 16, 1924, page 14 [includes photograph of opening celebrations].

“Wed at Winona,” Duluth Evening Herald, December 2, 1907, page 10, https://archive.org/stream/dec3190701dulu#page/n12/mode/1up: “A wedding of interest to many Duluthians took place Friday evening of last week at Winona, when Miss Lila Jane Howie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James K. Howie, became the bride of Arthur Tracy Ceperley of this city. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride’s parents. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Mildred Howie as maid of honor and the bridesmaids were Miss Fannie Longini, Elsie Little, Bessie McNickle and Ella Pietke. The groomsman was Ward Day of this city. A reception followed the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Ceperley left for a wedding trip, and after Dec. they will be at home at 18 Fourth avenue east.”

“Office Manager: Mr. Arthur T. Ceperley,” Vancouver Sun, March 1, 1930, page 22: “Well known in local financial circles, who has been appointed office manager for W.F. Irwin Co., Brokers, of Vancouver. Mr. Ceperley is a son of the late Mr. H.T. Ceperley, one of the pioneers of Vancouver,” [Includes photograph of Arthur T. Ceperley.]

Share this:

Like this:

2 thoughts on “Ceperley, Henry Tracey (1850-1929)”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading that article and looking up all the citations.
I knew a lot of the information, but found new treasures, it is to use the parlance of the age splendidly done. I have done a walking tour for many years based partly on Grace Ceperley.

By the way one of the major financial problems for Henry after Grace died was that Grace took out a mortgage for $20,000 in 1915 and to cut a very long legal story short Henry had to continue to pay the annual interest( $1600.00) on that mortgage plus the considerable upkeep of Fairacres until he surrendered the property to the Vancouver Parks Board. If you ever find out who Ethelreada Maude Keating and Letitia Jane Chester are ( they lent her the money) be sure to let me know 🙂

I did find out some information on Ethelreada Maude Keating and Letitia Jane Chester. They were sisters, who were daughters of Marcus Smith (1815-1904) and Anne Brock (1834-1909).

Ethelreada married Charles J. Keating in 1899. Charles was a civil servant who worked for the Privy Council office in Ottawa. Ethelreada died in Ottawa on November 11, 1950. She was buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.

Letitia married Arthur Chester. In 1921, Letitia was living in Vancouver, along with her brother, Arthur Gordon Smith. I don’t know what happened to her after that.